Friday, November 4, 2011

Dear Anonymous...

Yesterday, I received a comment on my blog from an Anonymous blogger, and I have been thinking a lot about it over the past 12 hours.

The blogger said, " Is your entire life just about a toddler and making crafts? Sister, put a little energy into society or the public good, okay?"

At first I was shocked...I have never received a comment like this before and I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with it, ignore it, respond, freak out? But after some pondering I decided to respond. I gently let the blogger know that I do in fact to something to help society and the public good. I am a professor at Johns Hopkins, where I teach the first and second year Teach for America teachers. But somehow this was not enough for me. I then began thinking that maybe this blogger had a point. Maybe I did need to involve myself in some more community activities, perhaps take A to visit a nursing home, or make something for less fortunate kids.

But after some more time thinking through ideas, I realized that I am very happy with the amount of community service I do on a daily basis. I have two amazing sisters, two parents who live in town, four wild and crazy nieces, a daughter, a husband, a handful of really close friends, a job, a love of crafting, a house on the market, a workout group, and another set of grandparents in Canada...all of whom I want to give my quality time to each day.

So in the end, the comment really just made me appreciate how fortunate I am to have such a great family, such close friends, and a life that I love living to the fullest for my daughter each day. Does this make me cold hearted and selfish...maybe...but my job right now is to love and support everyone I know, and introduce my daughter to every leaf, sunset, playground, and adventure that I possibly can.

I thought long and hard about going back to teaching elementary school when I had A and in the end I knew that I did not want to give my time to other children all day and be too tired for my own special little girl.

And that is my new plan...I am sorry homeless if I am neglecting you, and I promise I will spend more time volunteering in a few years, but right now I need to spend this time with my daughter, and my family, and make each moment as special as possible.

So thank you, Anonymous, for encouraging me to rethink my life and my priorities, and thank you for picking up my slack in the society.


xoxo
Daily Mom  

7 comments:

  1. Hi Daily Mom - I love reading your blog, but I don’t normally comment. You are right, you decided to put yourself out there with this blog so you have to accept the good and the bad, but I have to say that you responded to the "anonymous" comment with true grace. Clearly you do a lot for society, even in just the example of loving your child. She will grow up surrounded by this love and most definitely develop into a strong woman with the confidence to make her own difference. And as a side note - as a working mom I love your craft ideas! Keep 'em coming!

    And anonymous, what happened to not judging a book by its cover?

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  2. Good for YOU for not letting a person (who obviously isn't helping too many people if she (he) has enough time to write rude comments to you) bring you down or make you stop doing what you love. You ARE making a difference--in your daughter's life and in the life of those of us who enjoy reading your blog and learning your ideas. I think I am more annoyed with the comment than YOU are--probably because it hits close to home for me (since I DON'T do much!), but I wonder why anyone would blatantly want to be so negative? I understand that by going on here I am putting myself out there (as are you), but can't we all play nicely? If you don't have anything NICE to say...
    Thanks for teaching us all by example! This is such a "make lemonade" moment!

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  3. I think it was a case of little taste. Good job. New to your blog. Followed you during the blog hop.

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  4. Great response to a rude comment!! I agree with you... as a mother of toddlers my #1 priority right now is to have their best interests at heart. Taking care of "society" is not my priority at this point.

    Rude comments like that one just make me think the commenter is jealous. They probably aren't crafty and aren't able to stay home with their child... just my assumption.

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  5. I can't believe someone would leave such a comment on your blog. Wow. Great response!
    I am a SAHM of 3 soon to be 4 young children and we are homeschooling. Right now it is hard enough for me to get everything done at home. I would love to help out in the community again (we used to help out at food bank) but with 3 little ones under foot we are more of a hindrance than a help. when the are older we will be out and about more. My job right now is to teach my girls.

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  6. Well done!

    (And much classier than my response but "shove it anonymous" seemed appropriate too.)

    xoxo

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